Returned Party chief spearheads local development

In a makeshift livestream studio set up inside a cactus warehouse in Zhuangzitian village of Wenshan Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, a middle-aged man in a suit is seen adeptly presenting a wide range of cactus products.

He isn't a full-time host but the village's Party branch secretary, Lu Chunhong. Livestreaming is just one of the many roles he juggles as he strives to lead the village toward prosperity.

Zhuangzitian village was once notorious for its poverty. Over 80 percent of its land suffered from rocky desertification, leaving each villager with less than 0.13 hectares of arable land.

As a result, many young people left to seek better opportunities elsewhere, and Lu was once among them.

For nearly 20 years, Lu has engaged in various business ventures outside the village, spanning industries such as mining, agriculture, aquaculture and trade. Despite his growing success, Lu remained deeply concerned about the persistent poverty in his hometown.

In 2021, when the local government launched a talent return program aimed at boosting rural development through the leadership of prominent individuals, Lu decided to return to his hometown, bringing with him the wealth and experience he had accumulated over the years.

Rather than following the trend of planting the most popular crops, he evaluated the soil conditions and engaged with the villagers to identify the most suitable crops for the village.

"Cacti are well-suited to the region's arid climate and poor soil, making them an economical choice for cultivation. They are highly valuable, with their fruits, flowers and pads being used in the production of food, medicine and cosmetics," Lu said.

After selecting cacti as the primary crop and intercropping with corn and beans, Lu's next challenge was to persuade the villagers to pool their land as shares, paving the way for large-scale cultivation and unified sales.

To ease the villagers' worries, Lu contributed all 2 hectares of his own land to the village's collective economy. He assured them that he would cover any loss, while profits would be shared among everyone.

Inspired by Lu's leadership, the villagers gradually set aside their doubts and contributed their land as equity shares.

In 2022, the first harvest from 93 hectares of cacti was plentiful, generating more than 5 million yuan ($740,000) in sales revenue that year.

However, Lu didn't rest on his laurels; instead, he focused on the next challenge.

"I understand that industries with low entry barriers usually don't stay lucrative for more than three years, as they quickly become saturated with imitators. Therefore, we need to extend the supply chain and increase the added value of our products," Lu said.

He simultaneously targeted production, research and development, and sales to build a comprehensive industry chain, setting the cactus industry in Zhuangzitian village apart from the rest.

After five years of development, all the village's migrant workers had returned, and by 2025, the average income per resident had reached 32,000 yuan. This transformation has turned the village into a model of industrial prosperity in the region.

The villagers have cherished what Lu has done for the community. Villager Wang Yunxi said: "Lu is the heart and soul of the village. He has played a crucial role in developing our cactus industry, and we couldn't have achieved this without him."

Gao Bo, an investor from Chongqing, has seen firsthand how Lu spearheaded the development of the cactus industry in the village.

"Lu has a very dynamic mindset and thinks differently from many others. He has what it takes to unite the entire village, leading everyone toward prosperity and benefiting the local community," said Gao.

Lu said that he always keeps in mind that working for the people's well-being is the greatest achievement.